Founding Patron
The founding patron of AWL was the Hon. Justice Mary Gaudron QC who was appointed to this position on 19 September 1997.
Her Honour was the first female appointed as a Justice to the High Court of Australia. Her Honour continued as patron until 20 February 2009.
Founding Principals
The principals behind the establishment of AWL are articulated in her Honour’s key note speech at the launch of AWL on 19 September 1997.
- to acknowlede that women lawyers are different and to assert their right to be different
- to demand that the legal profession take stock of itself and its practices which result in the “under-representation of women in important positions of legal practice and in the judiciary
- to question assumptions in the law and in the administration of the law that work injustice against women
- to question the way in which legal practice is organised
- to draw attention to the way in which the law fails to protect women and fails to respect their equality and denies them equal justice
- to draw attention to and articulate areas of the law’s bias
These principals were reflected in AWL’s inaugrual Memorandum of Association that was executed on 9 September 1997 which stated:
- achieve justice and equality for all women;
- further understanding and support for the legal rights of all women;
- identify, highlight and eradicate discrimination against women inherent in the legal system and in the community generally;
- advance equality for women in the legal profession;
- create and enhance awareness of women’s contribution to the practice and development of law;
- provide a professional and social network for women lawyers
Establishment Committee
Between April 1995 and September 1997 a committee of women consisting of representatives from across Australia established AWL. All of these women attended face to face meetings and telephone conferences at their own cost on behalf of their individual State and Territory Women Lawyer Associations.
The members of AWL’s Establishment Committee included:
(Judge) Gillian Braddock SC (WA)
Linda Crebbin (ACT)
Candida D’Arcy (SA)
Georgina Frost (Vic)
Sally Gearin (NT)
(Judge) Felicity Hampel SC (Vic)
Margaret Hunter OAM (ACT)
Kerrie Leotta (NSW)
(Justice) Ruth McColl (NSW)
Audrey Mills (Tas)
Rhonda Penny (Qld)
Alexandra Richards QC (Vic)
(Magistrate) Kay Ryan (Qld)
Merran Short (NT)
Clare Thompson (WA)
Deanne Weir (Vic)
Kriss Will (Vic)
Timeline of Key Events
